Kid City’s High School Program provides direct support, guidance, and community for high school students in Central and South Los Angeles. We welcome all students regardless of GPA, especially those who may be the first in their family or generation to go to college, who don’t have other knowledgeable people who can help to guide them, or who just need encouragement and support.
The young people in our community are bright, capable, and creative scholars. They understand that higher education is one of the surest ways to become economically stable -- for themselves and their families. But the path to college is difficult, fraught with institutional and financial obstacles. Kid City cultivates agency and self-advocacy so that students claim their education and invite others like themselves to also pursue higher education.
Program Start Date:
Students may join the program at any time throughout the year but outreach and orientation occurs for fall semester in August, and summer programs in May and June. Students can also join by contacting Kid City staff at [email protected] or coming by the program during open hours.
MentorshipThis year-long mentorship program pairs high school students (Scholars) with a college graduate (Mentors) to provide individualized support throughout the college admissions journey. Kid City Scholars serves low-income and first-generation students of color by providing resources and information from a holistic and culturally informed perspective. Our goal is to foster a space where Scholars’ stories and experiences are honored and uplifted and participants take agency over their own higher education journey. In 2021-22 school year, almost 80% of the Mentors were Kid City alumni! |
College AccessDuring the Fall semester, Kid City offers workshops and events geared towards supporting high school seniors with the technical aspects of the college application process. Additionally, Kid City’s High School Team directly supports students with early FAFSA and CADAA submissions. Key Topics featured:
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College BridgeCollege access workshops continue during spring semester, with a focus on facilitating the transition out of high school into college and adulthood. Key Topics featured:
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Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR)Engages youth as co-researchers who conduct research guided by their lived experiences, knowledge, and communities. Youth are positioned as agents of change who can directly influence solutions to social equity issues. Youth lead at every stage of the research process – from selecting the topic, collecting data, analyzing the data, and sharing findings with the community. YPAR students have studied a scope of social issues from the South LA housing crisis to the modern impacts of redlining to the intersections between mental health and immigration. Every year, YPAR students collaboratively identify key issues affecting their communities and reimagine how to best address them. |
Junior College Access Program (JCAP)JCAP introduces high school juniors to the college application process granting them a head start and competitive edge. High school juniors learn about different higher education systems, explore majors, visit college campuses, and prepare for Fall applications. Key Topics features:
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And there's always more...Kid City offers lots of other opportunities for high school students of all ages, including field trips, arts and crafts, gardening, and volunteer opportunities. Check out our other program pages: |